Double
Volcano Happenings
(Should
You Be Nervous?)
* The Big Island is not in the Ring of Fire... the big horseshoe that surrounds the Pacific Coastlines
* Hawaii'a Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes are linked
* Guatemala's Fuego volcano is located within the Ring of Fire
* The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in WA was the most destructive in the history of the U.S.
 |
Technically HI is in the Pacific Ocean but not in the
Ring of Fire |
My Earth changes forecasts for this
year included shaky ground and
volcanic activity in the United States. I also pinpointed the state of
Alaska and Yellowstone which may turn heads with unusual action creating
alerts...and more. Well, more is happening right now, indeed. During the
spring, Yellowstone captured scientists’ concern but so has the Big Island in
Hawaii. Read on—discover if these two volcanoes are on the road to destruction
and how it may affect you.
Super
Tremors in Yellowstone
Earthquake and volcano gurus will
tell you, Yellowstone National Park—America’s restless supervolcano is due for another eruption. The power of a
supervolcano, they say, is 1,000 times greater than a normal volcano. But
Yellowstone, a geologic park, has shown past volcanism and ongoing seismic
activity for years. In May, earthquakes and eruptions are creating a buzz about
the question, “Will it blow?” After all, the park sits over an active volcano.
And Steamboat Geyser has erupted three times which is puzzling scientists.
 |
Monterey Bay Area is a target of faults
between the Pacific and North American plates. |
While a possibility of a great
eruption could happen, late geologist Jim Berkland noted back in the early 21st
century, it likely could experience renewed volcanic activity-which it is
doing. However, he added, it “should not approach the mega-eruption of
mid-Pleistocene time.” And I agree with the maverick scientist who predicted
the major 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake four days before it rocked San Francisco
and Northern California. But volcanic activity doesn’t stop in Yellowstone.
Hawaii’s
Big Island Kilauea Volcano
On
Friday evening, May 4, I received a phone call from my sibling. He said with a
sound of excitement, “Evacuations are happening in Hawaii. The volcano
erupted!” After all, we have family on the Big Island. When I logged onto the
computer I was welcomed with a 6.9 earthquake rocked the island. Since it
happened on land, there was no tsunami or casualties happened like the Loma
Prieta shaker.
But
as the volcano continued to erupt while tremors continued, mandatory evacuations
took place 30 miles from Hilo. Two rural subdivisions, Leilani Estates and
Lanipuna Gardens are in danger because of volcanic bombs (fire), avalanches of
hot rock, and lethal gases including carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. (On June 4, one interesting report puts the past and present-day Kilauea events and Hawaiian lifestyle in perspective.)
Is
Hawaii’s Volcanic Activity Unusual?
The
fact is, Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island has spewed lava almost continuously for
35 years since 1983. And it has started acting out again and may not end soon.
It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world—erupting on and off for
thousands of years. But the question remains, what’s going on?
Conservative
geologists and volcanologists will tell you there are not enough details about
why—but new magma (lava underground from below the volcano) got injected up
into the volcanic mass structure. The consensus is that this region is not
stable—and may fall into the Pacific Ocean one day. Could it cause a tsunami on the West Coast? Experts will tell you there is only a five percent chance of this happening. But there's more...
Are
Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanic Activity Linked?
Some
scientists will tell you the present and future volcanic activity may be a
trigger effect and caused by climate
change. Centuries ago, past periods of loss of glaciers were followed by a
spike in volcanic activity. And history often repeats itself when Earth changes
occur. Eruptions caused by the melting of ice at the Antarctic (image of
disoriented polar bears come to mind) are making it easier for magma to reach
the surface and feed volcanic eruptions.
What’s
more, you may be thinking, “Are these two volcanic geological parks linked to
the ongoing activity?” Perhaps it is a trigger effect. Back in 1980, on March
27, Mount St. Helens eruption happened; it was followed by the great volcanic
blast on May 18. Then, in late May, Mammoth Lakes, California (a dormant
volcanic region) began experiencing seismic activity alerting United States
Geologic Survey scientists to issue warnings.
While
Mammoth Lakes four significant earthquakes in a few days and hundreds of
smaller ones didn’t amount to another volcano episode like Mt. St. Helens, it
did cause alarm. Also, while it’s better to be safe than sorry, tourism
plummeted and the real estate market suffered.
So,
Do These Volcanic Events Affect You?
If
Yellowstone blows or Kilauea continues to spew lava, these happenings certainly
can affect people and the Earth. The sulfur dioxide can have adverse health
effects by affecting healthy air quality. In the immediate area people who live
nearby can suffer from the ash which can affect people with respiratory
problems.
Sulfur
dioxide can also effect the environment by wreaking havoc on weather and
climate—and cause a cooling effect. Not only can volcanic activity displace
people who may not be able to return to their homes, but air travel due to ash
clouds and aircraft engines get too hot and can become dangerous.
The
worst-case scenario? Well, Kilauea can affect the sea life in the Pacific Ocean
and air flow, whereas, Yellowstone can do much worse ending up in a nuclear
winter by shrouding the U.S. with ash turning Earth into a volcanic ice age. Go
back in time, almost two hundred years after the eruption of Tambora,
temperatures dropped, causing crops to die and famines in America and Europe.
So, yes, these present-day volcanic happenings can change life as we know it on
the earth but hopefully the activity will fizzle and not sizzle this time
around.
San Andreas Fault Zone—Tick-Toc
A
widely felt 4.5 earthquake rumbled nearby Palm Springs, the region
seismologists believe could give us a major 7.8 shaker, well overdue. My
prediction: A stronger quake could happen before the summer. The Big Island may
start up again with its volcanic activity in June and/or July. And, an underwater earthquake in the
Pacific Ocean—near Hawaii or Japan—could also be sobering events.
Update:
On May 17, Kilauea volcano erupted sending plumes 30,000 feet into the sky. The
effects are growing but nobody knows how severe this event will be. On June 4th, 500 earthquakes in 24 hours were reported. A downgraded 5.5 was the strongest earthquake.
I have a thing for banana-nut bread, have had since I was a kid.
Of all the recipes I’ve used, this one, dedicated to the festive holiday, is
one I especially like. Traditional banana-bread calls for ripe bananas. When
making this particular quick bread this week it was strange because I got a
banana flashback to 2006.
During a book tour with the late geologist Jim Berkland we had
an unforgettable earthshaking debate about bananas. (He’s the man who predicted
the San Francisco Earthquake that rocked the Earth on October 17, 1989 during
the World Series.) We had time to pass before our Barnes and Noble Bookstore
signing in Walnut Creek. So, he decided to drive us to Mount Diablo (an amazing
geological region he pointed out to me, curve by curve; and it was one of the
four places did predict earthquakes to happen every month). I was getting mega motion
sickness. He graciously offered a banana—it was too ripe. He didn’t get it that
I like my bananas fresh without any ripe nature to them. I resisted. 
In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, half-and-half, and vanilla.
Stir in fresh bananas and berries. Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into a bread pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour until golden brown and firm on top. Cool.
You can leave in pan and cut slices. Serve 8-10. 
